Automatic gearboxes dominate the new-car marketplace, with less than a quarter of models now offered with three pedals.
Analysis of data covering the top 30 car manufacturers reveals that only 67 of the 292 new vehicles currently available in the UK can be ordered with a manual transmission.
Online automotive marketplace CarGurus, which conducted the research, says the number of cars offered with a manual gearbox has declined by two thirds (66 percent) in the last 10 years
In 2016, some 197 cars were sold with a manual ‘box. The number offered has also tumbled by 18 percent since 2025.
Automatic for the people
Conversely, the number of cars offered solely with an automatic gearbox has increased substantially.
The UK now has eight brands in the top 30 that only sell models equipped with an automatic transmission, with Fiat and Honda being the latest additions. Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, Mini, Tesla and Lexus are the other marques that exclusively offer automatics.
This represents a 60 percent increase in automatic-only marques during the past two years.
Given the growing significance of Chinese brands in the UK, and the ongoing rise of electrification, the number of vehicles without a manual option looks set to increase.
Outside of the top 30 brands, new entrants BYD, Omoda and rapid-selling Jaecoo together offer 15 new models, none of which are available with a manual transmission.
Three pedals for enthusiasts
Manual transmissions have generally become the preserve of enthusiast-targeted models, rather than affordable entry-level cars.
Examples include the BMW M2, Toyota GR Yaris, Porsche 911 Carrera T and Mazda MX-5 – all of which are marketed with three pedals.
Chris Knapman, CarGurus UK editorial director, said: “Manual gearboxes are becoming increasingly rare in the new car market, now making up just under a quarter of all models. Over the past decade, the number of new manuals has more than halved, reflecting the wider shift towards automatic, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Yet for drivers who still value the engagement and control of a traditional gearbox, the used market still offers a wide variety of options.
“From compact hatchbacks to sporty coupes, enthusiasts can still find vehicles that deliver the connection and enjoyment of a manual. Our research highlights that while new manual cars are declining, there has never been a better time to explore the used market.”
Chris Bond is head of motor retail and a business tax partner at accounting and consultancy firm, BDO. He explains his concerns about the forthcoming, mileage-based eVED tax system – and how it could slow the adoption of electric cars.
Charging for electric car mileage will be with us by 2029, thanks to the UK Government’s proposed new eVED system. How this will work is an important consideration for the automotive industry – and indeed for the British public.
While I support the principle of a mileage-based system, there are key issues of fairness, administration and user-confidence yet to be addressed in the proposals. To work properly, the final legislation will need to create a simple, transparent and cost-effective system that aligns with the real-world behaviour of drivers and car dealers.
I agree that a mileage-linked duty is logical. However, it may be seen as unfair because it disadvantages drivers of smaller cars, which damage the road less than heavy SUVs. A better option would be to have a tiered structure that reflects vehicle kerb weight.
Estimates ‘vulnerable to manipulation’
My major concern, though, is the government’s suggestion that motorists will have to estimate their annual mileage for the year ahead. Such a system would clearly be vulnerable to error and manipulation. Instead, in BDO’s response, we have recommended fees based on the previous year’s mileage as being clear, verifiable and easily understandable.
For new car owners with no historic mileage, national average assumptions might be used. These could then be corrected once verified personal mileage data becomes available.
Clearly, garages that perform MOTs and car servicing will become accredited mileage-check providers. Extending this reporting to service bookings for new electric cars (which aren’t due an MOT for the first three years) could be integrated into existing systems without much difficulty.
eVED technology needs to be proven
For the longer-term, technology-based solutions are the obvious answer. Data from EV charging points, smart-meter-style integrations and domestic charger apps could eventually support accurate monthly billing. However, the mandatory adoption of such solutions should only occur once the technology is proven, which is unlikely until the mid-2030s.
Until then, annual mileage verification by accredited providers will remain necessary. This will also provide confidence for drivers, as they can see a paper trail.
If the government is fixed on an estimated mileage approach, this will probably have to come with a differential pricing structure to discourage frequent under-estimation. For example, a higher rate could be applied to any additional miles if the final certified figure is more than 20 percent higher than the driver’s estimated mileage.
Also, to retain flexibility for life events that could alter driving habits (the car’s owner starting a new job, for instance) such a system should allow motorists to update their estimated mileage during the year. No doubt, HMRC will insist on some form of penalty regime to address misuse, yet this all seems rather like overkill compared to a previous-year mileage approach.
The problem of taxing leased vehicles
Regardless of which system is adopted, providing drivers with an online eVED account with the DVLA will be important to help them manage payments and other vehicle information efficiently.
For leasing businesses, variable eVED charges may introduce new complexities, particularly where the lessor currently pays the car tax. Annual mileage accreditation would require data sharing between motorists, leasing companies and the DVLA.
To mitigate these challenges, BDO has suggested fixed mileage charges for three years, based on annual mileage averages, for electric cars that are leased. Options such as mileage banding could also be explored for fairness.
I really hope the government doesn’t go down the in-year mileage estimation route. Unless the eVED charge, due in 2029, is simple to use and perceived as fair by all parties, it could hit future sales and leasing uptake for electric cars. And that would be a bad outcome for us all.
The award-winning Toyota GR Yaris has been upgraded for the 2026 model year.
Having won four consecutive World Rally Championship constructors’ titles, Toyota Gazoo Racing has used its motorsport expertise to modify the hot hatchback.
The changes follow the launch of a special Aero Performance version of the GR Yaris last year, which used lessons learned from the Japanese Rally Championship for its dramatic new bodykit.
The updates for the 2026 Toyota GR Yaris are much more subtle, and will be evident to only the most ardent hot hatchback aficionado.
However, they reflect Toyota’s continuing commitment to the GR Yaris, some five years after the car was first launched.
GR Yaris updates in detail
Having analysed five years of data from racing and rallying, Toyota has identified the components damaged through motorsport, and taken feedback from its drivers.
This has resulted in a smaller steering wheel, reduced in diameter by 5mm to 360mm. Toyota says this will enable faster inputs during spirited driving.
The grip area on the steering wheel has also been redesigned, along with the layout of the switches. This is said to aid competition drivers, who might often turn the wheel through 180 degrees without repositioning their hands.
The buttons have thus been moved further away from where the driver’s hands would be.
A gripping story continues
Another change for the GR Yaris is the fitment of new high-grip Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres. Toyota’s geekiness even extends to a revised tread pattern and new rubber compound, designed to boost grip on track days.
Upping the grip level from the tyres has also meant retuning the front and rear suspension dampers, along with the car’s power steering.
Toyota has left the GR’s 1.6-litre turbocharged engine untouched. It still develops the same 280hp, which is channelled through a four-wheel-drive system.
UK prices and availability for the updated GR Yaris will be confirmed by Toyota later this year.
The younger half-brother of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamiton, Nic Hamilton raced in the BTCC last year with the Un-Limited Motorsport team.
This year, however, Hamilton will drive a Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance operated by Team Vertu. Run by Excelr8 Motorsport, Team Vertu won both the BTCC drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles in 2025.
Throughout his BTCC career, which has spanned seven seasons and 10 years, Hamilton has struggled with off-the-pace cars, frequently leaving him at the back of the grid. His best finish to date has been a sixth place at Donington Park.
Now, for 2026, Hamilton will have access to the same car used by two-time BTCC drivers’ champion, Tom Ingram.
An inspiration for disabled athletes
Hamilton is the only driver with a disability to have competed in the BTCC. The Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance has been specially adapted for his needs.
Justina Williams, owner of Team Vertu, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Nicolas into our team for the 2026 season, and to have him at the wheel of our Draper Tools car.
“The way Nicolas has battled against the odds to achieve his dream of competing on-track despite his disability is well documented. He is an inspiration to many for the way he has never given up on that dream.
“We feel we can give Nicolas the tools to really show what he can do this season and are looking forward to working with him to reach his goals during the year ahead – one of which is to stand on the BTCC podium with the team.
“We’ll be working hard with him to make that happen.”
Giving it everything for 2026
Draper Tools will be the title sponsor of Hamilton’s Hyundai. The partnership is intended to continue until at least the end of the 2027 season.
Nicolas Hamilton said: “I am incredibly proud to be joining such a strong outfit in Team Vertu and Excelr8 for this season. Throughout my career, I have struggled for funding and budget, which meant I found myself in less competitive equipment.
“Thanks to my 2026 partners and the team’s long-standing partner, Draper Tools, I can now step into a more competitive package, and that is a really special and exciting moment for me. I have worked harder than ever over the winter to build my strength and fitness to improve my disability and I will be giving absolutely everything I can to be as competitive as possible.”
Hamilton recently tested the Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance at Snetterton, and will be back behind the wheel for the season launch event at Brands Hatch.
The 2026 BTCC season begins in earnest on Saturday 18 April at Donington Park, with a qualifying race ahead of Sunday’s main event.
New data reveals that Toyota is the leading car brand for reliability when it comes to buying used.
Vehicle warranty specialist Warrantywise examined more than 1.6 million data points, covering vehicle repairs made between 2023 and 2026.
This allowed the company to identify which used vehicles are the most dependable, along with typical repair costs, to produce a reliability score out of 100.
In the 2026 edition of the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index, Toyota emerged as the standout marque, with four vehicles in the top 10. Making Toyota’s performance more impressive is that its result spanned a broad range of vehicles, from superminis to SUVs.
Keep reading as we count down the top 10 models in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index.
=9th. Suzuki Swift
We start with the Suzuki Swift, tied in joint ninth position in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index, with a score of 77.5 out of 100.
The Swift is a popular choice for new drivers, where reliability is often vitally important due to limited budgets. Last year, the Young Driver road safety training organisation ordered a fleet of 170 Suzuki Swifts, chosen to replace the unreliable Vauxhall Corsas it had used previously.
When it comes to repairs, a used Suzuki Swift had an average cost of £723.39 according to Warrantywise research. The most expensive repair claim was for a substantial £3,993.47.
=9th. Kia Ceed
Tied in ninth position with the Suzuki Swift is a family hatchback that helped to establish Kia in the UK, aided by its strong reliability.
Although the standard Ceed hatchback is no longer on sale (now replaced by the new K4), it proved a popular choice with British buyers. A standard warranty of seven years or 100,000 miles helped demonstrate the Korean marque’s confidence in its product.
Despite the long manufacturer warranty, older examples of the Kia Ceed will be well outside this window. Warrantywise’s Used Car Reliability Index shows the car should still prove a dependable choice, however, with a score of 77.5 out of 100.
Average repair costs for the Kia Ceed were £709.10, although the largest bill was for £5,069.30 – the highest of any car in this top 10.
=7th. Suzuki Vitara
Another Suzuki claims joint seventh position in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index, with the Vitara SUV sharing the spoils.
Developed across numerous generations, the Vitara is a no-nonsense SUV, typically chosen by drivers who depend on them. Such is Suzuki’s pride in its reliability, the company now offers a warranty of up to 10 years for vehicles that are serviced regularly at its franchised dealers.
With a score of 78 out of 100, even older used examples of the Suzuki Vitara are reliable according to Warrantywise research. The most expensive repair request was for £2,753.84, but the average cost was a more reasonable £689.70.
=7th. Citroen C1
Sharing joint seventh position with a score of 78 out of 100 is the Citroen C1. This is the first of three city cars based on the same platform – all of them made in the same factory in the Czech Republic – to feature in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index top 10.
A joint project between Toyota and PSA (Peugeot and Citroen – now both part of Stellantis) led to the C1, Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo. Great reliability should make all of them very affordable to run.
Average repair costs for the Citroen C1 came in at £659.87, although the most expensive request submitted to Warrantywise was for £4,356.
6th. Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux has a reputation for being virtually impossible to break, as highlighted by its starring roles on Top Gear. The versatile pickup truck claimed sixth position in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index.
Typically used as a workhorse by farmers and tradespeople, livelihoods can literally depend on a Hilux being reliable. A score of 78.4 out of 100 suggests it certainly is.
Given the size of the Hilux, a highest repair request of £6,503.57 is not so surprising. Average repair costs were also the second highest across the top 10 here, at £1,436.72.
5th. Peugeot 108
Entering the top five, here is the next of the Czech-made city car trio. The Peugeot 108 scored 78.9 out of 100 in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index for 2026.
The 108 ceased production in early 2022, when Toyota took full control of the factory. This means even the youngest examples are now over four years old, and therefore outside their factory warranty period.
Average repair costs recorded by Warrantywise for the Peugeot 108 are consistent with the Citroen C1, with a typical request of £702.29. The most expensive repair request was slightly lower for the Peugeot, at £3,546.
4th. Toyota RAV4
One of three Toyotas in the top four, the RAV4 also lays claim to being the most reliable used SUV. Considering the complexity of the modern RAV4 and its hybrid drivetrain, its dependability is impressive – with a score of 79.9 out of 100.
A RAV4 did accrue the highest average repair cost of the whole top 10, with a typical bill of £1,731.04. Yet a peak repair bill of £4,750.34 suggests that, when the RAV4 does go wrong, it can be expensive.
Across the Toyota vehicles in the top 10, electrical systems and clutch trouble were the most frequently reported reasons for a repair. Nonetheless, Toyota still recorded the best result of any car brand.
3rd. Toyota Aygo
Despite sharing a platform with the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108, the Toyota Aygo emerges as the most reliable of the three related models.
However, it was not the most dependable city car in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index, nor even the top-rated Toyota.
Aiding the Aygo’s performance was the second-lowest average repair cost, at £480.64. A maximum repair request of £1,587.60 is one of the lowest here as well.
2nd. Kia Picanto
Trying to find a new city car to buy in 2026 is no mean feat; manufacturers have culled many of their smallest offerings in recent years. Buying used may thus be more appealing for UK drivers who want a compact car.
The Kia Picanto is one of the few remaining new city cars on sale, and it demonstrates the potential to be a dependable secondhand purchase. It scored 86.8 out of 100 in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index, just missing out on the top spot.
Average repair costs of £403.49 for the Kia Picanto were the lowest of any car in the top 10, as was a most expensive repair request of £1,316.16.
1st. Toyota Yaris
Leading the way in the Warrantywise 2026 Used Car Reliability Index is the Toyota Yaris, with a score of 89.2 out of 100. It marks the second year in succession the Yaris has emerged on top, and crowns an exceptionally strong showing for Toyota.
On the rare occasions it does go wrong, the Toyota Yaris has an average repair cost of £888.90. The most expensive request was for £2,334.55.
Antony Diggins, managing director of Warrantywise, said: “When looking at the total cost of ownership for a used vehicle, it’s very important to consider reliability within this. Our Reliability Index helps give consumers a clearer picture of how different used vehicles perform over time, using real-world insights drawn from the used cars we support every day.
“Toyota continuing to lead the rankings shows how consistent some brands can be over time. Models like the Toyota Yaris build a strong reputation for reliability year after year, which is why they remain such popular choices in the used car market.”
The April event will celebrate the vee engine, with displays of both road and race cars, while Hangar 113 will mark a century of the Bicester Technical Site. A pioneering aircraft will be flanked by period cars.
20-21 June: Icons of Porsche, Sunstede Silverstone Edition
A festival dedicated to Porsche, to mark 75 years of the brand in the UK. It will be hosted at the Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone and will include demonstrations of Porsche race and road cars on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. You can buy tickets here.
27-28 June: Heveningham Concours, Suffolk
28 June: Ford Nationals, British Motor Museum
July 2026
3-5 July: British Grand Prix
5 July: National Metro & Mini Show, British Motor Museum
Look back at the 2026 events calendar so far… which of the below events will be on your radar for 2027?
20-22 February: Race Retro
For many enthusiasts, Race Retro marks the start of the annual events calendar. This year, there’s live action from 120 rally cars, historic race exhibits, celebrity motorsport talks and more. There’s also a flagship auction on Saturday 21st February, with cars once owned by Richard Hammond, Richard Hamilton and even King Charles II!
20-22 March: Classic Car & Restoration Show
Rustic gems, resto projects and pristine classics is the promise of the NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show. Over 1,300 classics are expected, from 160 car clubs, and more than 230 cars will be on sale, too. Meet star experts including Derek Mathewson, Mike Brewer, Paul Cowland, Sheldon Nichols, Steph Holloway and more.
28 March: AUTOBEST Conquest Live Show
This is something all-new for 2026. AUTOBEST, the largest independent automotive awards jury in Europe, is holding its first live AUTOBEST Conquest event on 28 March – where the 2026 winner will be revealed. You can vote now from the six finalists… Motoring Research director and UK juror Richard Aucock has already cast his vote. Tune in on the night to find out which of the six will be crowned AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe 2026.
11 April: Food & Fuel, Bicester Motion
12 April: GTI Spring Festival, Santa Pod
16-18 April: Salon Privé London
18 April: Pride of Longbridge, Cofton Park, Longbridge
A wider range of Kia vehicles have gained eligibility for the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme.
Last year, the Kia EV4 hatchback and PV5 Passenger van both qualified for the discount, which is intended to make EVs more affordable.
Further versions of the EV4 hatchback have now been added to the list of vehicles covered by the ECG – and the award-winning Kia EV3 compact SUV is eligible for the first time.
Based on the UK Government’s criteria for the ECG, both the EV3 and new versions of the EV4 qualify for a £1,500 discount off their respective list prices.
Kia EV3 priced from £31,555
The EV3 is one of the most successful Kia models of recent years, winning both the World Car of the Year and UK Car of the Year titles in 2025.
Becoming eligible for the ECG scheme should further boost the appeal of the EV3.
Entry-level ‘Air’ versions of the Kia EV3, in both 58.3kWh Standard Range and 81.4kWh Long Range specifications, will receive the £1,500 discount.
This will see the EV3 Air Standard Range priced from £31,555, with the Long Range Air variant starting from £34,555.
For those who want something a bit sportier, the EV3 GT-Line in Long Range battery guise also qualifies for the £1,500 discount, reducing its starting price to £37,995.
New Kia EV4 Motion added to lineup
Following the launch of the EV4 hatchback last year, Kia has added a further special edition that meets the ECG criteria.
Sitting between the GT-Line and GT-Line S trim levels in the EV4 lineup, the new Motion model makes use of the 81.4kWh Long Range battery pack, combined with a 201hp electric motor.
A set of 17-inch alloy wheels is included, along with body-coloured door mirrors, black wheelarches and silver window trims.
The interior of the EV4 Motion features a combination of cloth and leather upholstery, plus heated front and rear seats, an eight-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system and surround-view parking cameras.
Taking the £1,500 ECG discount into account, the Kia EV4 Motion – which is only available in hatchback guise – will be priced from £38,995.
The Jaecoo 7 outsold the Ford Puma in March 2026 to top the official UK new car registrations chart.
The smash-hit Chinese SUV also became the only new car to clock up more than 10,000 registrations – a hefty 871 monthly registrations head of the second-placed Puma.
It means the Jaecoo 7 is now 559 cars ahead of the Ford Puma in the year-to-date registrations, with both cars pulling clear of the Kia Sportage in third place.
The best month since 2019
Registrations rose by 6.6 percent in March – typically the busiest month of the year for new-car deals. It was the best month overall since 2019, too.
Electric car sales also rose by almost a quarter compared to 2025, reaching a record high.
However, pointed out the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the EV market share of 22.6 percent is still a long way off the 33 percent demanded by the government’s ZEV Mandate.
Overall, electrified cars – that’s EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids – accounted for more than one in two new car sales, with a 51.4 percent share.
‘Headlines belie the costs’
“The strongest new car market since 2019, with the highest ever volume of EV registrations, is a boost to the industry and the economy,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
“However, the headlines belie the costs incurred and the challenges involved.
“Much of March’s performance will be from orders placed before the start of the Iran conflict, which threatens to raise the cost of living, undermining consumer confidence.
“Against this backdrop, and with the EV market falling further away from mandated levels despite record levels of incentives, an urgent review of the transition is required to secure a sustainable market, economic growth and the UK’s net zero ambitions.”
Urgent ZEV Mandate review
Last month, the car industry called for an urgent review of the ZEV Mandate, due to the electric car transition not happening as quickly as expected.
“The destination to electric has not changed and will not change,” said Hawes at the SMMT Electrified event in Westminster.
However, the ZEV Mandate is proving “just too far ahead of the market and the consumer… recognising the world of 2026 is not the one envisaged five years ago is not a retreat from ambition, it is a necessary step to achieving it”.
BMW has expanded its iX3 electric SUV lineup, with the announcement of a new, more affordable ’40’ version.
Recently voted World Car of the Year 2026 by an international panel of expert judges, including Motoring Research’s own Richard Aucock, the iX3 debuted in all-wheel-drive 50 xDrive guise. The new, rear-wheel-drive iX3 40 joins it later this year.
As the first of BMW’s Neue Klasse (‘new class’) range of cars and SUVs, the iX3 is a hugely important model for the German marque.
In his review of the iX3 50 xDrive, our Tim Pitt awarded the electric SUV a full five stars, saying it ‘goes straight to the top of a very crowded class’.
One of his few areas of criticism was the premium EV being limited to a single version – an issue now resolved by the cheaper iX3 40.
Almost 400 miles of range
Powering the BMW iX3 40 will be an 82.6kWh battery: smaller than the 108kWh item in the flagship iX3 50 xDrive.
The entry-level model thus won’t match the iX3 50 xDrive’s impressive WLTP-tested battery range of 500 miles – the furthest of any electric car currently on sale.
However, the new BMW iX3 40 will be capable of covering up to 395 miles when fully charged, which still makes it one of the longest-range EVs available.
Making use of the same 800-volt technology as the 50 xDrive, the iX3 40 is compatible with rapid-charging speeds of up to 300kW. This potentially allows for 186 miles of range to be added in only 10 minutes. Replenishing the battery from 10 to 80 percent requires 21 minutes.
Available in the UK from summer2026
The iX3 40’s electric motor generates 320hp and 369lb ft of torque. It can accelerate the five-seat SUV from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, and on to a 124mph maximum.
Although this is slower than the existing iX3 50 xDrive, the two cars will look virtually indistinguishable – and offer the same level of standard specification. This includes an illuminated front kidney grille, along with the innovative Panoramic iDrive dashboard display.
UK prices for the BMW iX3 40 will start from £53,250, marking a substantial saving compared to the £58,755 asked for the cheapest iX3 50 xDrive.
The new entry-level iX3 will be available in the UK from summer 2026.
The Renault 4 has been named AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe 2026 in a groundbreaking pan-European Grand Finale.
In a live ceremony, the Renault 4 emerged victorious after winning the votes of both the AUTOBEST jurors and, for the first time, the European motoring public.
The new AUTOBEST Conquest format saw the awards opened up to Europe’s drivers, with jurors and the public each getting 50 percent of the votes.
The 32 AUTOBEST jurors – of which Motoring Research’s Richard Aucock is the UK representative – all voted late last year. However, their votes remained a secret until the public ballot closed half-way through the AUTOBEST Conquest show.
The Renault 4 emerged victorious with 39,676 points, edging ahead of the second-placed Citroen C3 Aircross on 38,259 points. The Fiat Grande Panda was third, with a total of 35,405 points.
Other finalists included the BYD Dolphin Surf, Ford Puma Gen-E and MG S5 EV.
During the three months of open public voting, the first AUTOBEST Conquest reached and engaged more than 15 million people. They were mostly in Europe, but there was participation from all around the world, including Asia, South America, the Middle East and Africa.
The AUTOBEST Conquest social media campaign also recorded over 5.3 million organic views.
Three more AUTOBEST 2026 winners
Three more awards were presented during the AUTOBEST Conquest 2026 live show.
The Fiat Grande Panda won the inaugural Best Car Design of Europe Award. A total of 7,996 points placed it ahead of the Renault 4 on 6,697 points and the Citroen C3 Aircross on 6,633 points.
Fiat head of design Francois Leboine accepted the award during the live show.
The MG S5 EV won the Best Affordable Car Technology Package of Europe 2026 award with 14,955 points – edging it ahead of the Renault 4 on 14,349 points. The Citroen C3 Aircross was again third, with 9,950 points.
The C3 Aircross did, however, win the Best Users’ Car of Europe 2026 award, “becoming the people’s strongest favourite and delivering one of the most impressive public endorsements of the evening”.
It scooped 21,676 points, ahead of the Fiat Grande Panda on 19,770 points and the Renault 4 on 18,630 points.
AnAUTOBEST landmark
“The first edition of AUTOBEST Conquest proved far more than a new event format,” said AUTOBEST founder and chairman Dan Vardie.
“It demonstrated that Europe is ready for live automotive storytelling, direct democratic participation, transparent continental voting and a stronger emotional connection between brands and audiences.
“The first edition is already considered a landmark success… and AUTOBEST Conquest has only just begun.”
